Footballer held over Millwall riot

A talented semi-professional footballer was arrested today for allegedly rioting at a Millwall game.

He is among hundreds of men police have targeted after fans went on the rampage at the play-off match with Birmingham City.

Slough Town player Veli Hakki, 22, described as one of their star players, was arrested at his home in Sydenham.

Midfielder Hakki, who was once a target for Tottenham Hotspur, is suspected of taking part in the riot, in which police officers were injured, on 2 May.

Police have so far arrested 40 men for violence after the match and are planning to arrest 100 more.

Last week Colin Casey, 25, was jailed for four months after attacking Birmingham City defender Steve Vickers as he left the pitch at the New Den ground.

Ian Harman, a 38-year-old roofer from Folkestone, was jailed for two years and banned from attending football games in the UK and abroad for 10 years after throwing a pint glass at officers "as if it were a grenade".

Offenders charged with rioting face four to five years in prison and those charged with violent disorder two years.

Police from Operation Zampa - the Met's special investigation team set up to identify and prosecute those involved in what has been described by the Millwall police commander as the worst example of football hooliganism in London - swooped on 10 addresses early today.

Detective Inspector Bob Campan, said today: "In terms of football violence, this was unparalleled. The ferocity of the violence was appalling and we are committed to arresting as many offenders as we can."

Of the 300 officers on duty that night, 150 were injured as well as 17 police horses.